High Quality Content by WIKIPEDIA articles! NXP Semiconductors is one of the Worldwide Top 20 Semiconductor Sales Leaders, and was originally founded by Philips more than 50 years ago. Formerly known as Philips Semiconductors, the company was sold by Philips to a consortium of private equity investors in 2006. The new name, NXP, stood for the consumer`s "next experience", according to then-CEO Frans van Houten. On August 6, 2010, NXP completed its IPO, with shares trading on NASDAQ under the ticker symbol NXPI.